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December 7 Worship

11/30/2014

The season of Advent brings us to the theme of Christ's coming, whether his coming with his birth at Bethlehem, or the time of his return, or even in coming to us through Holy Communion. We as believers might say we live in the "in-between times." We are now those waiting and perhaps, longing, for our Lord's return.

As we wait for our Lord's return, we are confronted with the aspect of time. Consider what we have in our reading from 2 Peter 3:8-15,

"With the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (vs. 8, 9)

Apparently, God's sense of time is different from ours! Above all, we find the apostle Peter call for us to exercise patience. It is that God's wants everyone to reach that stage of repentance. Yes, that includes you and me. We might be wondering why the world has continued on for so long after Christ's coming - and didn't the early church expect his imminent return?

The apostle Peter elaborates further about this time of waiting. We are o be found at peace, without spot and blemish. Yes, our walk with Christ, involves repentance and being renewed.

I would invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture or read the entire lesson in preparing for Sunday's worship. May God's blessing be upon your preparation and worship this Sunday!

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Think about how you perceive time in your own life? What might it say about your Christian walk with Christ?

Is there repentance that is needed in your life?

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November 30 Worship

11/24/2014

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This Sunday marks the start of a new liturgical year. Our Second Reading takes us to the beginning of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Here are words for you to consider:

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Paul give thanks for what they have been made in Christ and also to assure them they have everything they need to be the church at Corinth.
While he knew they were strong in "speech" and "knowledge," he also wanted to affirm that they were also gifted in other areas.

Do we consider how we in the church really do have what it takes to be Christ's people today? How often might a small congregation feel that it is lacking the resources to carry out Christ's mission to the world?

I like the point, too, that Paul highlights how they have been called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ. We do not exist individually as Christians, but must also realize that we are part of a community of believers. We need to remember how God's grace works -even in community.

May your study and reflection on these words of Scripture be a blessing to you as you prepare for Sunday's worship.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

How you might think of yourself and also the church as being enriched in Christ?

What spiritual gift can you identify that you have for the sake of the church?

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November 23 Worship

11/17/2014

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This Sunday brings us to Christ the King Sunday, which is the last Sunday in the liturgical year. The entire year in the church revolves around the person of Christ. On this Sunday, we affirm and celebrate his exalted status.

My message will be based on Ephesians 1:15-23 and consider the apostle Paul's words:

"God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet an has made him the head over all things for the church, which is hi s body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." Eph. 1:20-23.

What mighty words that Paul writes here. Christ came to die for our sins but that was not the end. God brought him back from the dead and raised him to have a place of honor in heaven. We think about all earthly rule, and yet Christ stands above them in authority. Would that all human authority would live under his rule!

He is now the head of the church. Yes, we in the church need to look to live under his authority. Do you see how this would play out in terms of our life together in the church and also interacting with others in our world.

I would encourage you to read these words of Scripture in preparation for Sunday's worship and may the reading and study of Scripture as well as your worship this Sunday be a blessing for you.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Do you feel that you are living under Christ's rule for your own life? What might this include?

Where do you see that the church is living under Christ's rule?

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November 16 Worship

11/10/2014

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This Sunday is Stewardship Sunday, and my message will have us reflect on how we are managing our time, talents, and treasure. While it's easy to focus exclusively on the treasure part, I believe we are called to be good stewards of how we manage our time and our talents.

The Gospel reading invites us to focus on whether we make use of what God has given us. It's about the master who entrusts his slaves with property. One was given five talents (unit of currency), another two, and another one. The slaves who had the five and two talents did some trading and doubled what they had. However, the slave with only one talent went and buried it in the ground. It is this last slave who gets reprimanded for not trading!

We might realize that we have gifts but not use them. On the other hand, we might feel we don't really have anything to give to the church or to the world. In either case, we are falling short of what Jesus expects of us.

Therefore, I believe it is important to look at how we use our time and the talents (here, gifts) God has given us. We also need to see that how we use our money will also matter to our Lord.

In preparation for Sunday's worship, you can read this parable in Matthew 25:14-30. You can pray about your own sense of stewardship and how God might want you to grow.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate yourself in terms of how you are managing what God has given you?

Where do you see there is room for growth? What steps will you take to move forward?

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November 9 Worship

11/2/2014

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This Sunday's Gospel brings us to focus on Jesus' Second Coming. Jesus tells the story of ten bridesmaids who are anticipating the coming of the bridegroom. The story is presented in Matthew 25:1-13.

In this story we read: "Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps." Matthew 25:2-4

The bridegroom comes and the foolish bridesmaids discover that they have no oil. They are unprepared. They begged for oil from those who had some. Those who had their oil refused and said to the others that they must go and buy their own oil.

The moral of the story is that some of the bridesmaids were simply unprepared.

Do you see yourself as being in a waiting mode for Jesus' return? We do not know the hour of his coming. In the story, the bridegroom (signifying Jesus) comes during the night when the bridesmaids were sleeping. The hour of his coming is determined by his heavenly Father.

In preparation for Sunday's worship, I would invite you to read the story in its entirety. Think, too, of whether or not you have that OIL - that is you are prepared in a spiritual sense as you are waiting.

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

Do you give much thought to Jesus' return?

How would you find yourself living in expectation and being prepared for his return?

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December 7 Worship

November 30 Worship

November 23 Worship

November 16 Worship

November 9 Worship

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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